The Russellville Democrat., 1887-12-07
HE AoatcuLTuRAL BUREAU.


 synopsis of tiia Annual Report nf Commis-
 sioner Colnsan- The Work of the Bureau of Animal Induslry in Stamping out
 Piuero-Pneumonia, Etc.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 2-The annual re- port of the ConmIssioner of Agriculture has been laid before the President
 The commissioner recommends substantially the abolition ofthe seed division Of the depart ment and the transfer of it's duties to the State and Territorial experiment. stations. The di- rectors Of these institutions. he says, ought to know what kind of seed the farmers Of their respective neighborhoods are interested in, and what kinds are best adapted tocach locait ty
 The commissioner discusses the scope and functions Of the department in a way which leaves room for the plain inference that he dls- approves the efforts to make 1t m executive cc' pertinent with member Of the Cabinet at its head The departments position, he thinks, should be that of an adviser in those investiga tions and enterprises which bear upon the agri' cultural interests Of the country
 The commissioner says 1t Is yet too early to make an offlcinl statement of the results in de tail Of the present years experiments in the development of sorghum sugar manufactures. but he adds, enough is known already, think to enable this country to anticipate al an early date the production of sugar surply from plant us easy of cultivation as corn, but little circumscribed by climate influences, and one whose by-products have value equal to the cost Of raising.
 The work of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the report says. has been greatly extended dur, ing the past year. The Governors 9fthirty-one States and Territories have accepted the rules and regulations of the bureau and promised the assistance of local police officers to secure their enforcement. In addition the Legisla- lures Of Rhode Island, Virginia, New York and Illinois have enacted laws providing for CO operation The worst infected cor7ties the report says, and those from which there was most danger of the spread of the disease, viz, those in the neigh. borhood of New York, Chicago and Baltimore have been placed in quarantine, and no cattle allowed to leave them without permit issued after special examination. By this means new outbreaks have been almost entirely pre- vented.
 From the beginning of the work for the eradication of this disease, in August 1886. to October 31, 1881, the inspectors of the bureau have inspected 15,3s7 herds, contain ing llT.400 animals, in districts -wher@ the plague was supposed to exist.- Among these there were found 7aS infected herds, containing 10.7G6 animals. of which se35 were affected with pleuro-pneumonia These figures do not include 2,S73 head Of cat tie in the distillery stables of Chicago, nearly half of which were diseased. The number of animals found affected with the disease and the number Of infected head were much great CT than had been anticipated, and the work TOT its control lsonsequently required q core spondingly larger force and greater expenditure of money. Our progress, however, has been very satisfactory. and the appropriation has been found sufficient to meet the demmo1 which have been made upon It.
 The commissioner expresses regret at the ua avoidablo loss inflicted on the farmers of Jl<k nois by the cattle quarantine, and 2dds:~l lhere has not been time in years wben this malady has been confined to such resSricted area as at present, and consequently the conditions are very favorable for it's complete eradication. II the State authorities Continue their co-opera tion as at present which there is every reason to expect, and If an appropriation is made by Congress equal to that of the present fiscal year, and with authority for its similar use, it is be iieved that this dangerous plague can bc ex- terminated by the end of the ne tshsGaLy6af
 In his chapter upon the departments expert ments in silk-reeling the commissioner says the experiments have not yet reached the point oi paying their own expenses, but that was hardly to be hoped for with a plant so limited. An other years experience, 1t is expected, will show what could be dono under favorable con ditions.
 The commissioner describes at some length the work of the chronological, statistical rnicroscopicai, forestry and other divisions, and sets forth the usefelness of their accomplish ments
 He recommends that the Public Printer be authorized to furnish to the agricultural press of the country, at the mere cost Of labor and material. electrotypes of such illustrations of the department as the editors may desire. hold inx that many of these merit much wider cir. culation than they can get in the reports Of the department.
 The commissioner says the building of rcser voirs among the Rocky mountains for the stor- age of an immense velume of water now wasted should command the early attention of Con rress.